Dibenzofuran

DIBENZOFURAN

132-64-9

Hazard Summary-Created in April 1992; Revised in January 2000

Exposure to dibenzofuran may occur from inhalation of contaminated air,
or ingesting contaminated drinking water or food. No information
is available on the acute (short-term), chronic (long-term), reproductive,
developmental, and carcinogenic effects of dibenzofuran in humans or animals.
Health effects information is available on the polychlorinated dibenzofurans;
however, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has noted that
the biological activity of various chlorinated dibenzofurans varies greatly,
thus, risk assessment by analogy to any of these more widely studied compounds
would not be recommended. EPA has classified dibenzofuran as a Group
D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity.

Uses

Sources and Potential Exposure

Occupational exposure may occur through inhalation and dermal contact,
particularly at sites engaged in combustion/carbonization processes,
such as coal tar and coal gasification operations. (1)

Dibenzofuran is released to the ambient air from combustion sources.
It may be found in coke dust, grate ash, fly ash, and flame soot.
The general public may be exposed to dibenzofuran through the inhalation
of contaminated air or through the consumption of contaminated drinking
water or food. (1,2)

Dibenzofuran has been listed as a pollutant of concern to EPA's Great
Waters Program due to its persistence in the environment, potential
to bioaccumulate, and toxicity to humans and the environment. (3)

Assessing Personal Exposure

No information was located regarding the measurement of personal
exposure to dibenzofuran.

Health Hazard Information

Acute Effects:

No information is available on the acute effects of dibenzofuran
in humans or animals.

Chronic Effects (Noncancer):

No information is available on the chronic effects of dibenzofuran
in humans or animals.

EPA has not established a Reference Concentration (RfC)
or a Reference Dose (RfD) for
dibenzofuran. (4)

Reproductive/Developmental Effects:

No information is available on the reproductive or developmental
effects of dibenzofuran in humans or animals.

Cancer Risk:

No information is available on the carcinogenic effects of dibenzofuran
in humans or animals.

EPA has classified dibenzofuran as a Group D, not classifiable as
to human carcinogenicity. (2,4)

Physical Properties

Dibenzofuran is a polynuclear aromatic compound with a molecular
weight of 168.20 g/mol. (2)

Dibenzofuran occurs as white crystals or crystalline solid that has
a solubility in water of about 3 mg/L at 25 °C. (1,2)

The odor threshold for dibenzofuran is about 1 milligram per cubic
meter (mg/m3). (1)

The vapor pressure for dibenzofuran is 0.0175 mm Hg at 25 °C,
and its log octanol/water partition coefficient (log Kow)
varies between 3.18 and 4.12. (2)

Note: There are very few health numbers or regulatory/advisory numbers
for dibenzofuran; thus, a graph has not been prepared for this compound.
The information cited in this fact sheet was obtained in December 1999.Conversion Factors:To convert concentrations in air (at 25 °C) from ppm to mg/m3:
mg/m3 = (ppm) × (molecular weight of the compound)/(24.45).
For dibenzofuran: 1 ppm = 6.88 mg/m3.